Sunday, September 1, 2013

­The Civil District court of Berlin-Lichtenberg has ordered a tattoo
parlor to pay 70 euro as compensation for causing pain to a child while
piercing her ears. The parents, who took their three-year old daughter
to the salon to get her ears pierced for her birthday, filed the suit,
saying their daughter endured an extreme amount of pain during the
procedure, and that the piercing had caused her trauma. The court is now
considering submitting the case for a criminal investigation on whether
the parents and the parlor were responsible for bodily harm to the
girl.

­Mexico has extradited alleged drug cartel head Eduardo
Arellano-Felix to the United States, San Diego US Attorney Laura E.
Duffy said on Friday. American courts charge Arellano-Felix with
racketeering, money laundering and narcotics trafficking. “Today’s extradition is a milestone in our fight against the Mexican drug cartels,”
Assistant Attorney General Breuer said in a statement. The
Arellano-Felix Organization was long one of the most notorious
multi-national drug trafficking organizations that controlled the flow
of cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs through the Mexican border cities
of Tijuana and Mexicali into the US. The extradition marks the end of a
20-year DEA investigation into this “vicious drug cartel,”
said Drug Enforcement Agency special agent William R. Sherman. Mexican
authorities arrested Arellano-Felix in Tijuana on October 25, 2008,
after a gunfight with police. In 2010, an extradition order was issued
on him and he spent the next two years trying to appeal the ruling.

­Sudan has withdrawn its candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights
Council following strong criticism from human rights and pro-democracy
groups. Sudan is “no longer interested in taking up one of the vacancies available in the Human Rights Council,”
Sudan’s UN Mission said in a letter obtained by the Associated Press.
Sudan, along with Ethiopia, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone, was
selected by the African Union to run for five African seats available on
the 47-member council in November. The country’s nomination sparked
sharp criticism from human rights groups because in 2010 the ICC charged
the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, with genocide in Darfur.
Al-Bashir is accused of trying to exterminate three non-Arab ethnic
groups in the region, where more than 200,000 people have died since
2003.

Egyptian military has demolished thirteen homes along the
border with the Gaza Strip to create a “buffer zone” intended to reduce
weapons smuggling and illegal crossings, security officials and
residents told AP. The anonymous North Sinai government officials said
the military were planning to create a no-man’s land measuring 500
meters by 10 kilometers, free of trees and homes, and have been testing
the idea by bulldozing homes in the regions with tunnels underneath
them. While most of the tunnels that comprised the once-busy system have
been closed, some remain along the border.

Israeli domestic security agency, Shin Bet, said Sunday that it
foiled a bomb plot targeted at destroying a Jerusalem shopping center.
Islamist militant group Hamas suspected over being behind the plot,
which was planned to take place last month. Three Palestinians were
arrested after an operation by military and police forces resulted in
the detention of two of cleaners in the upmarket Mamilla mall, just
outside Jerusalem’s Old City. “They were supposed to bring an explosive charge into Israeli territory,” a Shin Bet spokesperson told AFP. “They were to bring it into the mall and hide it in their lockers at their place of work.”
Shin Bet also detained a suspected Hamas operative from the West Bank
city of Ramallah after his home was found to contain a laboratory for
making explosives. He was suspected of recruiting the mall cleaners,
Shin Bet said.

About 800 people were killed in Iraq in terrorist and sectarian
violence in August, the United Nations said Sunday, as a wave of
violence sweeps the country reaching levels not seen since 2008. The
majority of those killed were civilians, who were reportedly targeted in
shootings and bombings by the Iraqi wing of Al-Qaeda. UN figures also
showed that more than 2,000 people were wounded. Almost 5,000 civilians
have been killed and 12,000 wounded since the start of this year, the
United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq said in a statement.

Nelson Mandela released from hospital, condition still ‘critical’

Anti-apartheid leader and former South African President Nelson
Mandela, 95, was discharged from hospital and returned home Sunday after
receiving treatment for a recurring lung infection, the South African
government said in a statement. “Madiba’s condition remains critical and
is at times unstable,” the government said, referring to the former ANC
leader by his traditional clan name. “His team of doctors are convinced
that he will receive the same level of intensive care at his Houghton
home that he received in Pretoria.”

Israel has deployed Iron Dome missile defense batteries in the Tel
Aviv area amid fears that Syria might retaliate against its neighbour if
the US attacks, Israeli military announced. It’s also deploying missile
defences in the northern part of the country closest to Syria and
calling up reservists. Gas-mask have also been distributed to the
population.

The Yemeni Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa escaped an assassination
bid in the capital Sanaa yesterday. Yemense Security agencies said that
four unknown gunmen opened fire on his convoy in central Sanaa as he was
heading home. However he was unharmed and no one was hurt in the
attack. Basindawa has been heading a national unity government since
December 2011 after the ouster of Ali Abdullah Saleh. No one has claimed
responsibility for the attack. Yemen has been the home base of the
dreaded terror outfit, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which has
carried out many such attempts in the past.

Godman Asaram Bapu was remanded to one day police custody by the
Court of district judge (rural) in Jodhpur on Sunday evening. Earlier
senior police officials interrogated 72-year Asaram in RAC campus for
more than four hours after being brought to Jodhpur from Indore this
afternoon. He was arrested by Rajasthan police from his Indore Ashram on
Saturday night.
Asaram who is facing the charge of sexually assaulting the minor girl
in Jodhpur Asaram was grilled by Jodhpur police for more than four
hours on Sunday afternoon. Police commissioner Biju Gerge Joseph DCP
Ajay Pal Singh and investigation officer Chanchal Mishra interrogated in
officers mess of RAC Jodhpur. Later addressing a press conference
Jodhpur police commissar said that Asaram is medically fit and is in a
position to face interrogation. Based on the interrogation probe
available with the police Asaram will be booked under relevant section
of Indian penal court. Meanwhile, talking to newsmen Chief Minister
Ashok Gehlot said that no one is above Law and stern action will be
taken if Asaram is found guilty. A good number of Asaram Supporters are
present in front of RAC campus in view of which adequate security
arrangement have been made in the city.

The
gross fiscal deficit of the Central government stands at 62.8% of the
actuals to budget estimates at the end of July 2013 as compared to 51.5%
of the actuals to budget estimates in the corresponding period of the
previous year. The primary deficit significantly increased to 148% of
the actuals to budget estimates at the end of July2013 as compared to 94.8% of the actuals to budget estimates during corresponding period of the previous year.

Differentials in use of fiscal deficit space by July 2013 vis-୶is July2012 (in %)

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Government of India accounts, Government of India

Note: The Fiscal deficit data pertains to the end of the respective month

The data for February 2013 and February 2012 pertains to actuals to revised estimates

* indicates data at the end of respective financial year and are % of actuals to revised estimates

The
revenue receipts at the end of July 2013 of the central government
stands at 16.7% of the actuals to budget estimates as compared with 18%
of the actuals to budget estimates at the end of July 2012.

Fiscal position for July FY2014 vis-୶is July FY2013

Month

% of Actuals to Budget Estimates FY2014*

% of Actuals to Budgeted Estimates FY2013*

% of Actuals to Budgeted Estimates FY2012*

April

17.3

13.1

18.1

May

33.3

27.6

31.7

June

48.4

37.1

39.4

July

62.8

51.5

55.4

August

–

65.7

66.3

September

–

65.6

68

October

–

71.6

74.4

November

–

80.4

85.6

December

–

78.8

92.3

January

–

90.7

105.4

February**

–

97.4

94.6

March

–

94^

98.9^

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Union Government Accounts, Government of India

Note: * Data pertains to the end of the respective month

** Data for February 2013 and February 2012 pertains to actuals to revised estimates

^ indicates data at the end of respective financial year and are % of actuals to revised estimates

The
government’s market borrowing stands at 50% of the actuals to budget
estimates at the end of July 2013 as compared with 49% of the actuals to
budget estimates at the end of July 2012. The domestic financing stands
at 64% of the actuals to budget estimates at the end of July 2013,
higher as compared to 53% of the actuals to budget estimates at the end
of July 2012. The external financing of the government stands at 10% of
the actuals to budget estimates at the end of July 2013 as against (-)
14 % of the actuals to budget estimates at the end of July 2012. The
total financing of the central government stands at 63% of the actuals
to budget estimates at the end of July 2013 as against 51% of the
actuals to budget estimates during the corresponding period of previous
year.

Sources of financing the deficit (%)

Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from Union Government Accounts, Government of India

Everyone has some hidden talent or creativity and so our Law Minister Mr.Kapil Sibal has. Very less people or Probably No one knows that our minister has the talent of writing and Singing. Yes, Mr. Kapil Sibal is a very good singer and lyricist.
On the occasion of Music Launch of an upcoming Hindi film ㄩlli Gang, our Law minister Mr. Kapil Sibal launched the music of the film. He has written two songs in the film and even sung it. The title track of ㄩlli Gang伯b> is sung by him only.
On the occasion of promotion and music Launch, Director of the film Ashish Tyagi & producer Radha Tyagi with their star cast Darshan Jariwala, Neena Kulkarni, Yashpal Sharma, Asif Bhasra & Amir Dalvi were present and witnessed the event.

Mr. Sibal looked excited about his debut as singer and lyricist in the bollywood and congratulated the director Ashish Tyagi
and said, I appreciate the work that Director Ashish Tyagi has done in
the film. He tried to fill the huge gap between the two important
generations, youth and old aged people.
ㄩlli Gang䠩s an inspired film based on our segregated and lonely senior
citizens, who get neglected by their own children settled in abroad. The
film depicts the story of those rich old aged people who faces lots of
intricacies in their final days of life, who sometimes get robbed or
even murdered for their wealth. The film is inspired from many real
incidents happened in our nation.

Hyderabad, August 31 2013:
Chittesh S Mandody of MohiteⳠRacing, Krishnaraj Mahadik of
MohiteⳠRacing and Paul Francis of Meco Racing claimed pole positions in
Senior Max, Junior Max and Micro Max categories respectively in the
ongoing Round 4 of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting
Championship 2013 at Kart Centre in Hyderabad on Saturday.
In the Round 4, 34 karters in three categories – Micro Max (7 to 12
years), Junior Max (13 to 16 years) and Senior Max (15 and above) are
showing their top performances at the 650-metre long track in Lahari
Resorts, where the racers are battling to win the most prestigious
grassroots level motorsport championship in the country.
In the Senior Max category, Chittesh dominated both the Heats (Heat 1
& 2) and was way ahead of other racers, will start at pole position
on SundayⳠPre-Finals. Most of the time, he was chased by Vishnu Prasad
of Meco Racing, who will start from the 3rd position after finishing 3rd at Heat 1 and 2nd at Heat 2. Nayan Chaterjee of Rayo Racing will start at 2nd position after a hard battle with Vishnu and his fellow teammate Ameya Bafna in the Qualifying session.
Junior Max category was totally dominated by Kush Maini of Dark Don Racing, winning both Heat 1 and 2 today, will start at 3rd
position as clocked third fastest in Qualifying. The Bengaluru-racer
was followed by Krishnaraj Mahadik of MohiteⳠRacing in both the Heats,
who will start at 1st position on SundayⳠPre-Finals as he
clocked the best timing the Qualifying. Arya Chirag Gandhi of Rayo
Racing raced brilliantly today and claimed 2nd pole position after finishing 3rd in both the Heats.
In Micro Max category, defending champion Pradyumna V Danigund
received fierce competition from Paul Francis of Meco Racing, who
snatched his pole position after defeating him in Qualifying session.
Paul also finished 2nd in Heat 1 and won the Heat 2 after racing spectacularly. Pradyumna of MohiteⳠRacing will start from 2nd position tomorrow after winning Heat 1 and finishing 2nd in Heat 2. Shahishnu Bagamane of Meco Racing will start at 3rd position after clocking third fastest timing.
There are three new faces in the Round 4 of the JK Tyre-FMSCI
National Rotax Max Karting Championship 2013 – Ashish Narrandas of South
Africa (Senior Max), Eshan David Pieris of Sri Lanka (Junior Max) and
2007 national karting champion Nikhil P Kashyap (Senior Max).
Experienced racer from South Africa Ashish Narrandas, who is
currently racing in the JK Tyre Racing Championship 2013, is enjoying
his break from the current season by karting first time in his life.
Meco RacingⳠNarrandas fared well in the Qualifying session but
couldnⴠcontinue his performance due to some problem in his kart.
15-year-old Eshan David Pieris may open doors to many Sri Lankan
karters, who can participate in professional karting championship in
India at cheaper price than any other South-East Asian country or
Europe. Dark Don RacingⳠEshan, whose father David Pieris raced in India
in 70Ⳡand 80ⳬ is racing in India first time and finds the competition
level very high in Junior Max category.
Nikhil Kashyap, who is 2007 national karting champion (Junior Max)
and 2010 runner-up (Senior Max), is racing after two years after taking a
break for his studies. Kashyap also raced in Formula Rolon after
karting and was 2nd runner-up in 2010. The Meco Racing racer
has joined the aggressive pack of championship leaders in Senior Max –
Vishnu Prasad, Nayan Chatterjee, Ameya Bafna and Chittesh Mandody.
The countryⳠmost revered karting championship – currently in its 10th
successful year – is the only karting event in the country that has
produced drivers who have participated and won in top races abroad. JK
Tyre is credited with introducing the concept of karting in India and
has patronized karting circuits across the country. JK Tyre together
with Meco Motorsports introduced professional karting in 2004 with the
introduction of the Rotax 2-stroke kart engines. It was then that the
current championship came into being and is today the most revered
karting contest in India.

The
fact that Farrukh never let go his passion for music has paid off as
here he is with his first solo album, ‘Dastak’ which is being marketed
by Venus Worldwide Entertainment Pvt Ltd.

Mahesh
Bhatt appreciated Baig’s singing as well as the lyrics and the music of
the album. He expressed happiness to see a youngster who has taken
ghazal as his passion and urged everyone to contribute for the revival
of the music genre.

Launching Dastak, Mahesh Bhatt said, “Farrukh’s voice echoes in your hearts even after the song has ended.”

The album ‘Dastak’ has six ghazals
which have been written by Dr. M.S.Rahi and the music has been arranged
by Navneet Kedar. Dastak will be available in the market both on the
online platform as well as offline from the date of its launch. This
album will surely delight the ghazal listeners the world over with its
richness and class. With this Album, Venus is promoting a new talent and
particularly in the genre of ghazals which badly needs a revival, in
the post Jagjit Singh era.

Farrukh
Baig fell in love with music at a very tender age of eight. However, he
started his formal musical training at the age of fifteen. His first
Guru was Ustad Qamar Mohd. Khan, a renowned All India Radio artist and a
proud recipient of President of India Award.

Farrukh
did not restrict himself to any one particular genre of music initially
but developed a special liking for ghazals later on. During his college
days, besides studies, it was just cricket and music. Soon he realized
that to excel in either cricket or music, he had to give up one – and
what he gave up is anybody’s guess.

The
music journey of Farrukh Baig has been an interesting one. Despite
being a management graduate, and being in the corporate world, it was
music which remained an integral part of his life. His music exploits
included doing shows all over, composing and singing a couple of title
songs for serials, and some music shows on television. Still, he could
never pursue it as a career. But music always remained paramount…

New Delhi, August 31, 2013: Heralding
the onset of Durga Puja, associated in West Bengal with goddess’
autumnal homecoming to the earth, euphoric abandon, family reunions and
lavish Bengali fare, the Department of Tourism Government of West Bengal organized Tourism Promotion Road Show in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The roadshow held at the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi was graced by Shri Krishnendu Narayan Choudhary, Hon’able Minister-in-charge of Tourism, West Bengal, accompanied by Shri Vikram Sen, Principal Secretary, West Bengal Tourism, Shri Bhaskar Khulbe, Principal Resident Commissioner, Govt of West Bengal. The Tourism Conclave was also attended by Mohammad Habibur Rahman Khan, Minister Commerce, Bangladesh High Commission, P P Khanna, Vice President and Convention Chairman Domestic Tourism and Sujit Banerjee, Secretary General, World Travel and Tourism Council. The roadshow focused on inviting investments to West Bengal.

“Hon’able Shri Krishnendu Narayan Choudhary,
in his speech, opened the doors to West Bengal, projecting the State as
a unique travel destination lending sharp focus on the upcoming Durga
Puja and highlighted the conducive opportunities for investment in
unparalleled diversified, bankable mega tourism projects in the State.
He also stated the recent policy announcement of the State for reducing
the Sales Tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel to enhanced connectivity to the 3
air ports in West Bengal catalyses tourism”.

Apart from focusing on
tourist attraction and general events, the road show was also marketing
the forthcoming Durga Puja carnival which is one of the biggest socio
cultural events in West Bengal. On its part, the West Bengal Tourism
Development Corporation has come up with different puja packages in the
road show.

In addition, tourism
officials were also looking at investment opportunities in places of
interest through the road show. Some tourism projects that offer
investment opportunities include the Gajoldoba tourism hub, Jharkhali
Eco Tourism Park, Big hotel project at Digha, Darjeeling, and training
institutes which offer degrees and diplomas in the hospitality sector.

The roadshow concluded with Shri Vikran Sen, inviting everyone to come to West Bengal for the upcoming Durga Puja Carnival
that epitomises the festive flavour and ethos of the State. He said, “I
can promise that once you come to West Bengal, you will not like to
leave but explore the opportunities available for investment and
development.”

The
specter of the country’s descent into fascism stares at us. The long
reign of the UPA has not halted or arrested the march of the communal
fascist forces; indeedthere
seems today to be a greater acceptance of ideas that we would call
fascist. The strident demands for death penalty – whether for alleged
rapists or terrorists – the impatience with rule of law; the
acceptability among the young urban people of a man as a potential Prime
Minister, who is totally autocratic, this desire for a strong
authoritarian leader, all again point to the circulation and reception
of fascist ideas.

Communal
Governments in various states Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh are preparing
themselves for a long innings. In Karnataka, the internal squabbling and
fracturing of the communal forces in the state have led to their ouster
from the government, however the intimidation of minorities has become
routine – pointing to the deep roots of communalization of society,
which may not necessarily change with a change of regime.

There
have been several low intensity riots at least since last year across
the country: Gopalgarh (Rajasthan); Faizabad and Kosi (UP), Dhule
(Maharashtra), which really points to the potential return of
communalism to the centre-stage of Indian politics. It also indicates
the fragility of communal peace and the continuing communalisation of
the police force at the local thana level, which openly target the
minority community in times of violence, as the video of the Dhule
violence graphically illustrated. On the one hand, one sees local-level
riots engineering machinery gearing up, and on the other the cleansing
and anointing of Modi as the development man.

The
rise in the power of the middle class via a corporate media, which
aggressively pushes the agenda of ‘corruption-free efficiency’ at the
cost of issues of social justice, secularism and democracy movements, is
further pushing the Indian polity towards the Right. A symptom of this
can be seen from the rising clout of Godmen is a sign of the alienated
middle class seeking short cuts for maintaining status quo.

In
fact, the possibility of Modi’s candidature has pushed our politics
much farther to the Right, as various political formations compete with
each to seduce the same social base and the same corporate media. The
jingoism around terrorism is an example of this alarming trend. Gujarat
model of Development is being sold as ‘THE’ model of development to the
gullible middle class.

Like
all fascists Modi presents a model of efficiency and effective rule to a
beleaguered nation and like most fascists this model of efficiency and
growth is based on lies, half-truths and a million dollar PR industry.

But
such a moment when a fascist alternative is being sold to civil
society, is also the moment which can produce a creative challenge.
Today’s seminar will offer such a challenge by putting every creation of
the Modi PR machinery under the scanner. A vast range of data on the
Gujarat model of development will be presented today and expose his
lies. These lie along several dimensions – his destruction of democratic institutions in Gujarat, scams of enormous proportions.

FACT SHEET

· In 10 years 60,000 small scale industries have been closed down.

(source: Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Gujarat.2011-12 )

· Gujarat ranks 5TH in F.D.I.

(source:
Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of
Gujarat. & Report by reserve bank of India.2011-12 )

·The state’s total debt was less than Rs 10,000 crore when theBJPfirst
came to power in Gujarat in 1995. Gujarat’s actual debt has mounted
from Rs 45,301 crore in 2001-02 when Modi took over to Rs 1,38,978
crore on December 30, 2012. The debt would mount to Rs 2,07,695 crore
as per the state government’s budget estimates by 2015-16.

· Gujarat is at 8thposition
in agricultural growth. Gujarat is never achieved 10% growth in
Agriculture sector. As per Government of Gujarat’s own statistics from
year 2005-2006 to 2010-2011, growth in GSDP in Agriculture and Allied
sector is 3.44% only-not double digit or 10%.

· 455885 Applications are pending for agricultural power connection as on March, 2011

(Source:Ministry of agriculture, Gujarat,2011-12 )

· Close
to half of the states children under the age of 5 (44.6 %) are known to
be suffering from malnutrition. 70 per cent are said to be anemic while
40 per cent are underweight. (Source:planning commission
report-2012-13)

In 8 districts and 3 Talukas of Gujarat, 2494 teachers posts are vacant.

In 4 dist of Gujarat, approximately 978 schools are running with only 1 or 2 teachers.

· The
Deputy Speaker’s post is left vacant by the Gujarat Government for a
decade. (As per article 178 of Indian constitution, it is compulsory)

· Assembly runs on an average for 30-32 days a year.

· No Lokayukta appointed since last 10 years.

· Gujarat
has organized 3716 Employment festival” as per Government of Gujarat
own record 10 lacks educated youth are unemployed and a total of 30 lakh
people are unemployed. (Source: NASSO report,GOI,2011-12)

· NSSO data show that in Gujarat , growth in employment has dropped to almost zero in the past 12 years

A
recent CAG review on accounts of the States is an eye-opener when it
comes to Gujarat, the latter’s high claims notwithstanding. Allegedly
there are Rs 16,706.99 crore worth of financial and land allotment
irregularities with resultant negative impact on delivery on economic
and development fronts (Source: CAG report 2011-12)